by Rev Steve Nickodemus

A lot of “NOs”!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”
Romans 3:20

My grandson, Jacob, is reading a rather “unfriendly” sign in Lythia park, “NO animals, NO liquors, NO overnight sleeping, NO bicycles.”  It is almost like Jacob is thinking, “Wow, there are sure a lot of “nos” in life!”

There are a lot of “nos” in life, and if you think about it, there are a lot of “nos” in God’s law.  The more we look at the Ten Commandments the more we realize how many times we have broken the “nos” of God.   As we look deeply into God’s Word we see how wretchedly we have broken God’s rules.  We have not loved God with our whole heart nor have we loved our neighbors as ourselves.  And like a big neon sign, God’s Law condemns us and shows us our sin.

But thanks be to God that though all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, Christ Jesus redeemed us from the power of the Law through His precious blood!  You and I are saved, not by keeping all the rules of the Law, but by the grace of God in Jesus.

Does Satan condemn you before God, reminding you of how you have failed to be righteous and keep God’s law?  Does your conscience bother you, knowing you have failed miserably to do what God wants you to do?

Rejoice, believer in Jesus!  You are saved, set free from the curse of the Law by the precious blood of the Lamb!  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 6:28)  And the one whom the Son has set free is free indeed! (John 8:36)

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado